Courtship of the Recluse, Linda Rigsbee [e novels to read online txt] 📗

got to get going. The sunwill be up soon.” He lifted his hat from a peg on the wall andshrugged into his coat.

“See you at lunch.” He said as he walked outthe door.

Cynthia finished the dishes and wiped thecounters. Last night she had noticed a few clothes in a hamper inthe laundry room. As she passed through the living, room she pausedand smiled. A fire burned brightly in the fireplace. Cade had beenbusy this morning.

Removing the laundry from her room, shewalked down the hall and hesitated at Cade’s bedroom door. Somehowit seemed an invasion of his privacy, but it was part of the job.She turned the porcelain knob and pushed the door open. His roomwas also filled with antique furniture, although his appeared to bemahogany. The bed was made and she found his clothes in the hamper.The master bath was tidy, so she left the room and pulled the doorshut, breathing a long sigh.

With the laundry washing and the sun peepingthrough curtainless panes, she set out to explore the house. Firstshe opened the double doors in the kitchen and found the formaldining room. A long oak table graced the center of the room, itsten carved chairs at attention. A matching china cabinet held finechina, crystal and silverware. The silverware needed polishing andthe furniture could use a good dusting. She closed the doors whenshe left the room, anticipation increasing her pulse. It was suchan interesting house.

The long curving stairway invited and sheascended to the second floor. The landing paused at the Y of twolong hallways. The floor creaked as she chose the one on the right.Three empty bedrooms were closed off to the heat, as well as a fullbath that looked as though it hadn’t been used in years. Apparentlythe water had been shut off up here to keep it from freezing.Retracing her steps, she advanced down the second hallway. Anotherfull bath and two more bedrooms - all empty. As she glanced intothe last bedroom, she noticed it had a patio door. Closerinvestigation revealed a balcony that overlooked the driveway. Thisroom also had a fireplace and a door adjoining the bathroom. Sheran her fingers along the smooth marble mantle. What a beautifulroom - and empty. Even as the idea occurred that she would ratherhave this room, she knew she couldn’t ask. He had made his choice -suggesting something else would be rude. Still, the rich hardwoodfloor reflected the weak morning sun in a cheerful manner thatspawned reluctance to continue the tour. This would be a good placeto come to relax, though - when the weather warmed. She rubbed herarms and left the room.

At the end of the hall, a steep set of stairsled to the attic. The stairs groaned as she climbed and the doorsquealed as she opened it. A small frosted window allowed light toenter the room that was obviously a storage space for heirlooms. Aspinning wheel stood in one corner, partially covered by a dustysheet, and beside it, a mahogany rocker with a cobbler seat. Therewas an old treadle sewing machine with carved drawers and even agrandfathers’ clock, stating the permanent time of three p.m.Imagine the stories that must lurk in the walls of this house. Alarge chest invited, and she knelt, touching the lid. Somethingprivate - or more interesting antiques? She lifted the lid. Insidewere tiny sweaters and booties. Each set was carefully sealed in aclear zipper bag. They looked unused...his mothers’ hobby, or wasthere a sad story? She closed the lid and ran her fingers acrossthe dull copper latch. It was dusty. This was one place Cadeobviously didn’t spend much time. She stood and glanced around theroom again. Such beautiful things should be displayed in the roomsdownstairs. The grandfather clock would look beautiful in thefoyer, and the rocker should be in the living room, near the piano.She sighed and left the room, carefully pulling the door shut.

As she descended the long stairway again, herpalm caressed the smooth dark wood of the banisters. It was such abeautiful house - and so cold. She rubbed her arms again and headedfor the living room, which was now comfortable. The fire wasburning down, though, so she added more wood. She stared into theflames, wondering why none of the windows had curtains, and why somany things were left to gather dust in the attic. The floor wascold. Why no rugs? She curled up on the couch and fell asleep.

Waking with a start, she glanced at herwatch. Fifteen minutes until twelve. She leaped from the couch anddarted into the kitchen. Her first day and she had fallen asleep onthe job. Working as fast as she could, she started a pot of coffeeand sliced some ham. As she completed setting the table, the screendoor squealed and Cade opened the door. He stomped his boots andshook white flakes from his hat and coat before entering thehouse

Cynthia poured them both a cup of coffee ashe washed at the sink.

“How long has it been snowing?” Sheasked.

He dried his hands with the towel. “It juststarted. It looks like it might get bad. Do you have a listyet?”

She blushed. “No, I’m afraid I didn’t getaround to it yet.”

He noted her rising color and shrugged. “Noproblem. I don’t think we need much of anything.” He dropped to achair and built himself a sandwich. “Did you call your friendyet?”

“No. I didn’t...I thought...It’s longdistance, you know.”

He shrugged again without looking up. “Keepin touch with people. It gets lonely out here.”

He should know. Which came first, the recluseor the loneliness? She set the coffeepot back on the stove.

“Are you lonely?”

“No.” He took a bite of his sandwich andwashed it down with coffee.

She fashioned a sandwich. “Was your motherlonely?”

He glanced up at her, and his mouth twitched.“Yes.”

“What happened to her?”

He swallowed his food. “Eat your lunch.” Hisattention was back on his food.

Her face felt hot and cold by turns. His coolreproach smarted, but the previous terse answers about his mothershould have warned her that it was a touchy subject.

At any rate, he was a recluse and he probablydidn’t want a babbling female around.